By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
Abuja
The Supreme Court yesterday fixed March 2, 2015, for hearing of the appeal filed by the deposed Olofa of Offa in Kwara state Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, against his removal from throne.
The apex court fixed the date after hearing the preliminary applications on the legal fireworks on the Olofa stool.
A High Court in Kwara State had dethrone the traditional ruler on the ground that it was not the turn of his ruling house to ascend the throne and the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, on July 9, 2013, followed suit by removing the Oba from the throne.
The Court of Appeal, while delivering judgment in the suit filed by
Prince Rauf Adegboyega-Keji challenging Oba Gbadamosi’s appointment by kingmakers also stopped him from parading himself as the Olofa of Offa.
The appellate court held that the two ruling houses in Offa, namely, the Anilelerin and Olugbense, had agreed that the Oba stool would be ruled by either of them on a rotational basis.
The Olugbense family, in the suit filed by their counsel, Mr Olushola Baiyeshea (SAN), claimed that the Anilelerin had ruled for 40 years.
Baiyeshea contended that after the death of the immediate past Oba, Alhaji Mustapha Olanipekun, who hailed from the Anilelerin family, the same ruling house still wanted to continue on the throne against the spirit of rotatory arrangement.
He submitted that Oba Gbadamosi, who hails from Anilelerin, was still parading himself as the Oba in defiance of the Court of Appeal judgment of July 9, 2013.
However, Mr Yusuf Ali (SAN), counsel to the appellants, said that Olanipekun’s death necessitated the amendment of the court processes to make room for a substitute for him.
He argued that Olanipekun’s name had been struck out upon his death, adding that he had filed that application before Olanipekun’s death.
Justice Muhammad Muntaka-Coomasie, who led the five-man panel of Supreme Court judges, after listening to the arguments of counsel to both parties, adjourned the case till March 2 for hearing.
